A family in need. Volunteers willing to go the extra mile. Hard-working designers. One week. And a giant bus, which of course, needs to be moved. The formula may be familiar, but even in its ninth season, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (CityTV, Fridays at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.) continues to be a tear-jerker.

And designer Jillian Harris assures viewers the series continues to excite, and evolve.

“I feel like we have been building homes for families that not only need it, but are making big changes in our communities,” she says, noting the team is also excited about the scheduling move from Sundays to Friday.

The former-Bachelorette turned designer says working with Ty Pennington and the Extreme Makeover team “is truly a dream. It’s like a crazy high — for eight days while I’m on site, I feel exhausted but addicted to the build. And the family.”

While building a new dream house in the course of week seems stressful, Harris says, “As soon as we move that bus, I always want to start right over. I never want it to end.”

The Peace River, Alta., native says that the high point of working on any episode is when “we move that bus,” while the low comes about five minutes later when they realize they need to pack up and leave the community.

As for working with Pennington, when asked what she’s learned from the charismatic host, she responds, laughing, “That I desperately want to learn how to play the guitar!”

But, more seriously, she says the series, “truly has changed me as an individual. I sure don’t sweat the small stuff anymore!”

After filming on Extreme Makeover wraps, Harris’ immediate plans are “a big nap, a week off and some serious R&R,” she says.

Then, she’ll be back on the airwaves in January as part of Canada’s Handyman Challenge on HGTV.

The new series, which is a competition-DIY hybrid, also features Mike Holmes, Bryan Baeumler and Scott McGillivray as judges.

“I’m super pumped but also nervous. It was my first time hosting a show and it proved to be not only different than anything I’ve ever done but actually difficult.”

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